Augustine of Gazothes, St

Augustine Of Gazothes, St., a Dominican and bishop of Zagrab, in Slavonia, and afterwards of Nocera, in Naples, was born at Trau, in Dalmatia, about 1259. He left his family and embraced the religious life in 1277 or 1278. In 1286 he was sent to Paris to complete his studies, where he gave himself up to reading in and meditating upon the Sacred Books, and to solitude, silence, and prayer. He soon became a successful preacher, and, in order to render this success more lasting, he caused to be erected monasteries in many parts of Dalmatia. Afterwards he passed into Italy, and thence to Bosnia, where he combated warmly the Manichsean errors. He also visited Hungary and arrested the progress of heresy and paganism in that distracted country. Pope Benedict XI made him bishop of Zagrab at a time when the northern countries were 'suffering from the incursions of the Tartars and all the evils consequent upon such a disturbed state. Augustine set himself to the work of reforming abuses and ameliorating the condition of his distracted diocese. He every year assembled a synod and visited on foot all parts of his diocese. In 1308 he was sent by pope Clement V, together with cardinal Gentili, to re-establish peace in the distracted Church of Hungary, and succeeded happily.. He was present in the Council of Vienne in 1311, and in 1317 was translated to the bishopric of Lucera, in. Italy. In this situation he conducted himself with the same piety, zeal, and humility, and died, a holy death Aug. 3, 1323. He was canonized by pope John XXII, and is commemorated on Aug. 3. See. Touron, Hommes Illust.